第２３２掘：茶話と懸け橋の子 (Part1)
After the meeting, with no particular issues, the envoys from Zilba and Enaria both expressed a desire for a ceasefire. We, the mercenary group, were then given the order to escort Princess Miffy to Enaria to finalize the talks, agree to a ceasefire, and conclude a peace treaty.
It was exactly as expected, which is why Yuki-san told us to be extra careful, and after finishing our preparations, we decided to depart immediately.
It's a relief to be able to go to Enaria quickly.
I'm also worried about what Agil-san discussed.
"We're off!"
"Have a safe trip!"
Though, it's just us who are staying behind this time.
"Ah, I wish I could have gone too."
"...Riel, if we went, we'd just be a hindrance."
"I know. We can't afford to be useless this time."
"If we demi-humans went, it might cause some backlash. I wonder if Ratz and Eris will be okay in disguise?"
"Those two will be fine. And, I want to go with Yuki-san, but I'm not good at research, so maybe it's for the best that I'm not going?"
"Oh, Riel."
"Heh heh, besides, Yuki-san asked us to take care of the town. If we protect this place well, it will be a catalyst for humans and demi-humans to get along."
"...That's right, Riel is correct. As for the stubborn ones in the demi-human village, Mauve-san and the others are there, so it's fine if we become friends gradually."
"Yeah. If we work hard, we can make this a place where various races can live together happily, just like Weed."
"Right. This kind of work suits me better. I'll do my best to get praised by Yuki-san!"
As Riel said that, Aslin and Firia, who were nearby, seemed to have heard them...
"Riel-neechan, I'll do my best too!!"
"Riel-nee-sama, I will do my best as well!!"
"Yep, yep, let's do our best together!"
With that, Riel scooped up the two of them.
"Kyaa, neechan, you're like an onii-chan!"
"Nee-sama, let's go on patrol like this!"
"Alright, let's go!!"
"Ah, hey, don't just snatch them away!!"
"Ah, please wait."
As Riel ran off with the two of them in her arms, Labyris and Shera chased after her.
Honestly, Riel is as energetic as ever.
"...She's as energetic as ever, Riel is."
"Yeah, but I never thought I'd be able to be free like this. Even when I was a slave, or when I was in the village, Riel always pulled me along."
"Oh? ...Speaking of which, you said you and Riel were adventurers together."
"That's right. Riel and I have done a lot of things together. We did so much that when I became a slave, I didn't know what to do."
"...I felt the same way."
A brief silence followed.
"...You know, I've told you about myself, but I've never heard your story, Tori and Riel."
"Huh, is that so? Well, since we have time, how about we have some tea and you can tell us?"
"That's right. For now, let's listen with Riel and the others. Everyone else will probably be interested too, and it's a hassle to tell the story again."
"Ah, yeah. In that case, shall we call the Enaria group as well? They'll be bored just traveling by carriage."
"Yeah, that's a good idea. It might be fun to ask everyone what they like about Yuki too."
"That's a good idea! But I like everything about Yuki-san, though."
"If you don't say something more specific, everyone might just say they like everything."
"Hmm, that's difficult. Well, let's contact everyone."
And so, since we had nothing else to do, we decided to have some tea and chat.
"That's perfect. I was getting bored of traveling by carriage."
"That's right. We're in a different carriage from Princess Miffy, so this is perfect."
"Huh? Where's onii-chan?"
"He's in the same carriage as Princess Miffy. Officially, he's a member of the royal family."
"In a way, that's convenient. We can't say what we like about my husband in front of him."
"What, Rurua, you're surprisingly maidenly? I heard you did a dogeza naked."
"Kyaa, stop it!! That was just a momentary lapse, I'm full of love now!!"
"What are you saying? Come to think of it, we might have had a delicious play session then?"
"E-Eris-san too!?"
"Ah, yeah. Heh heh... I'll ask Yuki-san to try it sometime."
"...Riel, you're quite a pervert, aren't you?"
"Hey, I don't want to hear that from Tori! You love doggy-style play too, don't you?"
"Th-that's not true!! Riel, what are you saying!!"
"Hey, what's doggy-style play?"
"What kind of play is it?"
Aslin and Firia, who were drinking tea with us, tilted their heads.
Honestly, Riel, what are you saying in front of these two?
"Well, the two of you. It's a type of way to do 'Yuki and pee'."
"Hey, Labyris!!"
Seriously, it's too early for these two.
I covered their ears.
*Bonk*
"Ouch, that hurt."
"Ugh, Tori-nee-sama, what was that all of a sudden?"
"Ah, sorry."
I reflexively removed my hands from their ears.
Since the two of them were standing side-by-side, I pushed their heads together with both hands, and they ended up bumping their heads against each other.
"So, you were going to tell us about Tori-san and Riel-san's story?"
"Ah, right."
Riel always gets sidetracked like this.
She really hasn't changed.
"I heard you two were adventurers, but I've never heard the details. I'm interested."
"We have time, so we'll listen carefully."
Seraria and Eris prompted.
"Well then, Riel, where should we start?"
"Hmm, let's see. Maybe from where we first met? Since we have time anyway."
"Yeah... Riel and I first met on the outskirts of the village."
We lived in the same village, and I was, well, the village chief's daughter.
I was raised quite sheltered, and I didn't have many friends.
I got bored of studying alone at home, so when I secretly went outside, I met Riel.
I was surprised at first.
Because she was eating a grilled fish naked, without any clothes on.
So, I asked her what she was doing, and she said she was eating.
I mean, as you can see, Riel has always been Riel, I thought.
I thought she was a strange child, but she answered when I talked to her, and she was a good friend to me.
From then on, whenever I had free time, I'd sneak out and go see Riel.
But one day, Riel had bruises on her body, and I wondered what happened and asked her.
"Hey, Riel. You're injured, what happened?"
"Ah, yeah. I don't really know. The adults hit me for some reason. I couldn't dodge it well today."
"What, that's terrible."
"Is it? I thought it was normal because it happens all the time. They said something about my hair being a betrayal because it's mixed with white and black."
Riel said that and lifted the black part of her hair.
But I didn't really understand why that would be a betrayal.
"Well, it's fine. More importantly, I got some fish for Tori too, so eat up."
"Ah, yeah. Thank you."
I ate the fish she gave me, and then I finally realized something.
"Riel, why are you always eating fish and fruit here? Don't you eat at home?"
"Hmm, I've been alone since my mother died. I was also kicked out of my house by the village chief, so I live in a makeshift hut by the river. See there."
Riel pointed, and there was a dilapidated hut that could barely protect from the wind and rain.
And then, I learned from Riel that my grandfather had done that, and I was shocked.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing, Tori?"
"Because, because of my grandfather... Riel..."